By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
A former county road foreman has been convicted of a charge of criminal mischief for
illegally paving a portion of a private road using county manpower and materials, the
district attorney’s office has confirmed.
Raymundo Rodriguez Jr., 45, pleaded guilty to the offense of criminal mischief, more
than $750 but less than $2,500, a Class A misdemeanor, in late March, District Attorney
Suzanne West told The 830 Times.
Rodriguez also agreed to make restitution in the amount of $16,662.34 and was placed on
one year of community supervision, according to court documents in the case.
Rodriguez’s guilty plea, restitution and community supervision were part of a plea
agreement he reached with the district attorney’s office, West said.
The case against Rodriguez began on March 8, 2023, after a complaint was filed with the
Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office by landowners John Allen and Laura Allen.
According to a complaint on file in the Rodriguez case, the Allens told VVSO
investigator Mario Vargas that county employees who were part of the Precinct 4 road
crew had worked on a private road owned by the Allens in an area of the county called
Salem Point near Lake Amistad.
In his report on the incident, Vargas wrote, “The victims advised that the work that was
completed was poorly done and (done) without their authorization. The victims pointed
out that the cattle guard gate leading to Salem Point was damaged and the foundation to
lay the asphalt for the road was done incorrectly.”
Vargas said he interviewed the county employees involved and wrote that Rodriguez,
who was identified as the road crew foreman, “advised that he was aware of a complaint
that had been made to the county and that he had been written up by the commissioner in
regards to the actions that he took at Salem Point Road.”
“Rodriguez knew a portion of the road was private, but did not know up to what point.
Rodriguez explained that his plan was to pave the easement of the road and was unaware
that the portion he had paved at Salem Point Road was private. Rodriguez stated that he
‘thought it would help them and admitted to it being a mistake’,” Vargas wrote in his
report on the incident.
Vargas also wrote that when he interviewed the other employees, they all said Rodriguez
“had given the order to work on the road.”
Rodriguez was indicted in May 2024 for the offenses of criminal mischief, greater than or
equal to $2,500, less than $30,000; and theft of property, greater than or equal to $2,500,
less than $30,000; both state jail felonies.
West said as part of the plea agreement, the first count of the indictment was reduced to a
Class A misdemeanor, a lesser-included offense, and the second count of the indictment
was waived and abandoned.
Of the case, West said, “Restitution was paid up front at the time of the (guilty) plea to
guarantee full payment to the victims. Both the Allen family and citizens of Val Verde
County were affected and have been made whole.
“The defendant is no longer employed by the county. The defendant approved the
purchase of the materials and directed crews to pave over 300 feet of private property on
the Allen Ranch, including directly across the cattle guard on their property.
“The defendant claimed responsibility for improperly using thousands of dollars of
materials to pave private property. The problem was pointed out repeatedly by the ranch
owners, who were well aware of the extent of the county’s rights and responsibilities in
regards to ranch roads that are used by abutting landowners for ingress and egress.
“The district attorney’s office appreciates the efforts of the Val Verde County Sheriff’s
Office and county financial officers to document the issues and investigate to successful
disposition,” West said.
Commissioner Pct. 4 Gustavo “Gus” Flores, reached by phone, confirmed that he was
“completely unaware” that Rodriguez and the crew had paved on private property, and,
as the sheriff’s office investigator noted in his report, had written Rodriguez a reprimand
when he learned about the incident.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
